A woman (L) passes by a poster depicting a bomb reading “We are being punished by the Brussels sanctions”, in Budapest on October 18, 2022. – Hungary on October 14, 2022 published a national consultation survey asking citizens to agree or disagree with the government’s opposition to European Union sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by FERENC ISZA / AFP)
EU, US voice concern over Poland’s ‘Russian influence’ committee
The European Union and the United States have expressed concerns over a new Polish law creating a body to probe “Russian influence”.
A woman (L) passes by a poster depicting a bomb reading “We are being punished by the Brussels sanctions”, in Budapest on October 18, 2022. – Hungary on October 14, 2022 published a national consultation survey asking citizens to agree or disagree with the government’s opposition to European Union sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by FERENC ISZA / AFP)
The European Union and the United States have expressed concerns over a new Polish law creating a body to probe “Russian influence”, which critics say Warsaw will use to target opposition.
The EU has “special concern” over the committee, which would have powers to block citizens from public office, the bloc’s justice commissioner said Tuesday.
Brussels is worried the new panel could be used against independent judges in Poland, and the European Commission “will not hesitate to take measures if it’s needed,” commissioner Didier Reynders said.
ALSO READ: China offers Russia ‘firm support’ in ‘core interests’
In a separate statement late Monday, the US State Department said it was “concerned by the Polish government’s passage of new legislation that could be misused to interfere with Poland’s free and fair elections”.
It said it shared “the concerns expressed by many observers that this law to create a commission to investigate Russian influence could be used to block the candidacy of opposition politicians without due process.”
ALSO READ: European Commission bans TikTok on official devices
On Monday, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed the contested bill into law, enabling the creation of the commission that the opposition slammed as “anti-constitutional” and “Stalinist”.
The commission’s nine members, appointed by the lower house of parliament, will decide if individuals it investigates succumbed to Russian influence between 2007 and 2022 and impose harsh penalties.
ALSO READ: European anti-mafia raid claims several arrests in Germany
The government has not provided for any appeal process for people found guilty, who could find themselves banned for 10 years from public positions relating to public finances and classified information.
© Agence France-Presse
